All local Rite Aid stores will be closing in the coming weeks as a result of the chain’s bankruptcy proceedings.
The news organization The Hill has compiled a list of more than 600 Rite Aid locations nationwide that will be closing, based off of court documents. Among the impacted stores are all of the Coachella Valley stores, including locations in Cathedral City, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, Indio, Palm Desert and Palm Springs.
Here’s what you need to know.
Are all Rite Aid stores closing?
All of the Rite Aid stores in the Coachella Valley will be closing either this month or next. Those locations are:
Where can I get my prescriptions moving forward?
Customers who receive prescriptions at Rite Aid will either have their prescriptions automatically forwarded to designated nearby pharmacies, or they can pick a preferred pharmacy for future pickups. If you choose to have your prescriptions moved to a different location, your preferred pharmacy must get in contact with your Rite Aid pharmacy prior to its closure date.
Here is where you can expect your medications moving forward:
Why did Rite Aid file for bankruptcy?
Rite Aid announced in early May that it had begun Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.
CEO Matt Schroeder said in a statement that the company has continued to face financial challenges “intensified by the rapidly evolving retail and healthcare landscapes,” according to a press release. The company operates 1,240 stores across 15 states, USA Today reports.
It marks the second time in less than two years that Rite Aid filed for bankruptcy after a previous restructuring reducing the company’s debt.
Rite Aid ice cream: Does the pharmacy’s closure mean the end of Thrifty Ice Cream?
The fate of the beloved Thrifty Ice Cream brand remains uncertain.
The ice cream company began out of a small factory in West Hollywood in 1940, before being sold at the now-defunct Thrifty Drug Store, according to Thrifty’s website. In 1996, Rite Aid acquired Thrifty and still maintains ice cream counters at some of its locations, mostly on the West Coast.
As part of ongoing bankruptcy proceedings, most of Rite Aid’s assets — including Thrifty — will be sold, and an auction is set for June 20, according to Reuters. However, it’s unclear whether this means Thrifty will go away entirely.
Currently, Thrifty ice cream cartons can be purchased at grocery stores such as Albertsons, Bristol Farms, Cardenas Market, Food4Less, Gelson’s and Vons. Some Rite Aid locations also offer scoops. Visit stage.thriftyicecream.com/locations for a full list of locations.
USA Today contributed to this report.
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Is your Coachella Valley Rite Aid store closing? Here’s what to know about prescriptions
Reporting by Ema Sasic, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
